Pull-over shaft drive for axminster looms



Dec. 10, 1946.

v. F. SEPAVICH PULLOVER SHAFT DRIVE FOR'AXMINS TER LOOMS Filed Jan. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2-) 5-9-61. VI IIIIIIGI- MIG-DIM INVENTOR VICTOR F. 5'EPAVIOH. gem/nMe- ATTORNEY FIE. if

Deco 10, 1946. v. F. SEPAVICH I PULLOVER SHAFT DRIVE FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed Jan. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR v/c: TOR r. SEPA wow ATTORNEY FIG. 1

Patented Dec. 10, 1946 PULL-OVER SHAFT DRIVE FOR. AXMINSTER LOOMS Victor F. Sepavich, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 19, 1946, Serial No. 642,294

17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in AX- minster looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide improved means for operating the pullover shaft by which the tube frames are moved one by one to transfer position.

Axminster looms ordinarily operate with a tube frame conveyor system Which is advanced in part at least by a pullover shaft operated by a pawl and ratchet mechanism. Because of the nature of the pawl and ratchet mechanism it has been necessary in the past to employ very strong brakes which of themselves impose a considerable load on the moving means for the conveyor system.

It is an important object of my present invention to eliminate the pawl and ratchet feed mechanism for the pullover shaft and in its place substitute motor driven mechanism geared to the shaft. The motor is caused to operate during that part of the cycle of the loom in which the pullover shaft is moved angularly, after which the motor serves as a lock to hold the pullover shaft stationary. The motor alternately turns the pullover shaft and then locks it electromagnetically. This result I accomplish by using a motor having a wound rotor the windings of which are connected together when the shaft .is to be turned, and are then connected directly to the power lines which feed the stator when the shaft is to be locked.

In addition to the motor drive for the shaft I may also use a second motor for the conveyor system and control it simultaneously with and in the same manner as the shaft motor is controlled.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a conk venient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of an Axminster loom having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a detailed front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1, showing the switching mechanism for the motor,

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical section on line l4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 3, parts being in section,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 65 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic View showing the motor controlling circuits.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the frame of the loom is indicated at I and the front and back tuft cutter knives at l l and 12, respectively.

2 The fabric F leads forwardly from the Warp threads W which define the shed for the Weft needle N. The tube frame conveyor system designated generally at C is supported by an overhead structure including horizontal runs [5 and IS on which are mounted sprockets 57 around which extend the endless tube frame transporting chains l8 and I9. Tube frames 29 extend between the chains and are provided in the usual manner with spools 2 l to supply the tuft yarn 22.

At each side of the loom there is located a transferrer arm for detaching the tube frames one at a time from the chains and moving them toward cloth forming position. In Fig. 1 the right hand transfer arm is indicated at 2'5 and a rocking rod is provided to give the tube frame its usual rolling-in motions. Rod 26 is operated by a lever 2'! and link 28 connected to a lever 29 positioned for cooperation with a cam 30 on the loom shaft 3L Rising and falling movements of the transfer arm are effected by rod 32, lever 33 and a second cam 34 on shaft 3!. The lay L and weft needle N have operative movements every beat or pick of the loom.

In operation of the loom, and assuming that three-shot Axminster fabric is being woven, the bottom shaft 3! will rotate once every third beat of the lay L, and the needle N will be inserted into the Warp shed each beat or pick of the loom. During the tuft forming operation the transfer arms will detach the tube frame in transfer position from the chain, move it down to cloth forming position, roll the tube frame, and then lift the frame a slight distance to pull off yarn for the next tuft forming operation. The cutter blades l l and I2 then sever the tufts from the tube frame and the transferrer arms thereafter move upwardly to return the tube frame to the chain. This tuft forming operation will occur every third pick of the loom, and when it is completed the transporting conveyor system will advance to move the next tube frame to transfer position.

Advance movement of the chains is efiected by means of a pullover shaft which is journaled for rotation in stands secured to the upper part of the loom frame and one of which is shown at M. Each end of the pullover shaft has secured thereto a sprocket wheel similar to that shown at 42 in Fig, l for moving the conveyor chains.

Except for certain features of the pullover shaft pointed out hereinafter the matter thus far described is constructed and operated in the usual manner.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide separate motor means for rocking the pullover shaft 4% prior to a tuft forming operation and then holding it or locking it electromagnetically in stationary position during the the motor and shaft lil is such that a given numeber of rotations of the motor produces the required angular motion of the: shaft. to. move. a new tubeframe to transfer position.

The shaft 3! has secured thereto the switching devices for controlling the motor M. These switch devices are designated at I, II and III- and; since they are alike only one of: them will be described in detail.

A disk 6.9 of electric current conducting material is secured to a bushing Bl made of insulating material and pinned as at 62 to the shaft 3! so that the disk ESQ-is insulated from the shaft. The disk has molded therein orotherwise secured thereto an arcua-te peripheral plate 65' of electric insulating material to which is secured an electric current conducting contact strip 65 concentric with the peripheral surface 6? of the disk. Thecontact strip'fi'd is therefore insulated from the disk but is secured to it and turns-with: it.

Disposed laterally on the disk 60 is a resistor element iii mounted on an insulatin arcuate base H secured to the disk (it as at '12. A contact arm l 3 is positioned for engagement with theresistor and isheldin adjusted angular position on and in electric contact with the shaft 3| by aclamping set screw 15. The resistor lil iselectrically connected tocontact strip 66 by wire or conducton it so that brush 8! is connected through part of the resistor to shaft 3 l whenever the brush engages contact 56.

Extending parallel to the shaft 3| is a rod- 80 held in fixed position on the loom and supporting a brush 35 for engagement with the periphery 6'3 of the disk 59 and the contact strip: 65. Aninsulated holder 32- for the brush is. secured to rod 80 and keeps the latter out of electric connection with the brush. The brushes 8! of the. units I, II and III are connected by wires 85, 8t and Sito thethree windingsa, b and-c, respectively,. of the rotor R of the motor M.

Each unit includes a holder 90. clamped to rod 80 by a screw 9!- andprovided with a shank- 92., made of insulating material and holding a: sup-- port 93 for a brush as which is in: continuous electric. contact with the left side of disk til, see Figs. 3 and 6. The brushes S i of the units I; II and III are connected by wires 95, 96 and 91 respectively to'the main power lines ifil, m2 and H13 which supply three phase alternating electric current.

Referring to Fig. '7 and assuming that the loom has-reached a position where it is necessary to startan angular movement of the pullover shaft, shaft 3i will have turned to a position such that brushes 8| will contact the strips 55. Winding alwillthen. be connected by wire 85 and its br-ushfii through that partfof the corresponding resistor 'lil between conductor T6 and arm 13 to shafts! Similarly, windings b and 0 will also be connected to shaft 3!, and since all the windings are. thus connected together the rotor will turn. The rate of turning will be determined by the amount of resistors it in circuit with their winda 4- ings, and this in turn is determined by the position of arms 73.

Under these conditions the rotor will turn so long as the shaft 3| is in position to keep brushes Si in contact with strips 66, and motor M will act through its. reduction gearing to turn the pullover shaft. Contact strip 65 is of such length that the pullover shaft will be turned the proper amount to-advance the next tube frame to transfer: position.

As the shafts 3i and 46 turn together the brushes 8|. will eventually leave the contacts 66 and the windings are no longer connected to each other through shaft 35. Brushes M will then engage the periphery of the disks 68, whereupon the windings of the rotor will'be' connected through their Wires 85, and 8? to the disks: 6% and brushes 9 1 to power wires NH, 1G2. and: Under this condition the windings a, b and c are connected directly across the same feed wires which supply the rotating field: of the stator, and the rotor will be magnetically locked in a stationary position. This'lockingcontinues until brushes ii again engage contacts 65. The transfer arms operate during this period of lock ing and assurance is given that the tubeframe gear reduction between the motor M and the pullover shaft is so proportioned and related tothe rate of turning of the motor that the period of contact between the brushes 8i and the contact strip 65 will be just sufficient to cause the aforesaid given number of revolutions of the motor and give the pullover shaft its requisite amount of angular movement to move the next.

tube frame into transfer position.

As already mentioned, the conveyor system C can if desired bev driven by a motor additionalto that provided for the pullover shaft. Such a motor is shown at M in Fig. l. together'with appropriate gearing for driving. the chains !8 and i9.

overhead mechanism l5 and has a pinion. l-ll' meshing with a gear H2 rotatable on a bearing H3. A second pinion ili rotating with gear H2 meshes with a. gear H5 securedto a shaft HB- rotating in bearings l H on the structure 15. sprockets I Hi similar to sprockets Q2 are secured to shaft H6 and advance the chains whenzmotor M runs. The gear reductionsare the same 111 each case, so that whenever motors M and. M run simultaneously the chains will be fed: con-- tinuously by power supplied to them at two spaced points.

In Fig. 7' the rotor R of the motor M is-provided with windings a, b and c which are con-- nected by wires I29, I21. and l-ZZ to wiresiifi, 8t. and 87, respectively. By these: connections the rotors of the two motors are always in thesame condition so that when the pullover shaft is being moved by motor M, the. motorv l will advance its part of the conveyor system, and when, the rotor of motor M is magnetically locked there will bea similar. locking of the rotorR. Conduits I25 and I25 are provided to hold-wires con-- necting the motors with. the switching uni-ts; I wish it to be understood, however, that I am not restricted in thepractice of my invention to the The motor M is similar to motor M and is mounted on a stand HE forming part of the:

use of the second motor M, nor am I to be limited to the particular showing of the overhead mechanism as set forth in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an electric motor connected to the pullover shaft of an Axminster loom and controlled in such manner that the motor alternately turns and electromagnetically locks the pullover shaft. This result is obtained by using a wound rotor and connecting its windings together preferably through speed regulating resistance means to cause turning of the rotor when the pullover shaft is .to be turned, and then connecting the windings directly to the same line which feeds the stator of the motor so that the rotor is electromagnetically locked against turning. Any slight angular shift between the rotor and the stator during the locking period will be greatly minimized by the reduction gearing between the motor, and the pullover shaft and the conveyor chains will be held in correct position for registry with the tube frames when the latter are returned to the chains subsequent to a tuft forming operation. Also, an additional motor M similar to motor M may be used to drive the chains at points spaced from the pullover shaft. I do not claim the broad feature of two motors to drive the conveyor system except as these motors alternately move and electromagnetically lock the system.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system part of which has periods of activity for advancing tube frames alternating with periods of inactivity during which the tube frames are detached one at a time from the system, a part moving in timed relation with the loom, an electric motor operatively connected to said part of the transporting system, and electric control means for the motor operated by said second named part and causing said motor to run to cause said system to have said periods of activity and causing said motor to stop to cause said system to have said periods of inactivity.

2. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system part of which has periods of activity for advancing tube frames alternating with periods of inactivity during which the tube frames are detached one at a time from the system, an electric motor operatively connected to said part of said system and constructed to be capable of running or being electromagnetically locked against motion, and control means causing said motor to run to cause said system to have said periods of activity and causing said motor to be electromagnetically locked against motion during said periods of inactivity.

3. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system part of which has periods of activity for advancing tube frames alternating with periods of inactivity during which the tube frames are detached one at a time from the system, an alternating current motor having a stator and a rotor provided with windings and operatively connected to said part of the system, 1,

and electric control means for said windings effective to cause the rotor to turn to cause said system to have said periods of activity and effective during said periods of inactivity to cause said windings to cooperate with the stator and constitute an electromagnetic lock preventing motion of said rotor and said part of said system.

4. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system part of which has periods of activity for advancing tube frames alternating with periods of inactivity during which the tube frames are detached one at a time from the system, a multiphase alternating current electric motor having a rotor capable of turning and also capable of being electromagnetically locked against turning, and control means for said motor causing said rotor to turn to cause said part of the system to have periods of activity and causing said rotor to be electromagnetically locked during said periods of inactivity.

5. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system part of which has periods of activity for advancing tube frames alternating with periods of inactivity during which the tube frames are detached one at a time from the system for a tuft forming operation, a pullover shaft geared to said system, an electric motor operatively connected to the shaft in such manner that the shaft and motor turn together and are at rest together, said motor capable of being electromagnetically locked against turning to hold said shaft stationary, and control means for the motor causing the latter to run to cause said part of the system to have said periods of activity and causing said motor to be electromagnetically locked during said periods of inactivity.

6. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system part of which has periods of activity for advancing tube frames alternating with periods of inactivity during which the tube frames are detached one at a time from the sys tem for a tuft forming operation, a pullover shaft for said system to be turned during said periods of activity and to be held at rest during said periods of inactivity, an electric motor geared to said shaft and capable of running and also capable of being electromagnetically locked, and control means for the motor causing the latter to run to turn said shaft during said periods of activity and effective to lock said motor electromagnetically against turning during said periods of inactivity to prevent turning of the shaft.

7. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system part of which has periods of motion for advancing tube frames alternating with periods of rest during Which the tube frames are detached one at a time from the system for a tuft forming operation, a multiphase electric motor provided with a stator connected to a source of multiphase electric power, a rotor for the motor having windings and operatively connected to said system, and control means for said windings effective during said periods of motion to connect said windings together to cause turning of the rotor and effective during said periods of rest to connect said windings to said source of multiphase electric power and j cause the rotor to be electromagnetically locked against turning.

8. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system having periods of motion alternating with periods of rest, a multiphase electric motor having a stator connected to a multiphase source of electric power, a rotor for the motor operatively connected to said system and having windings, and control means for said windings to connect the latter together to cause turning of the rotor for periods correspending to said periods of motion and also effective to connect said windings to said source of multiphase electric power for periods corresponding to said periods of rest to lock said rotor electromagnetically and prevent movement of said system.

9.111 an Axminster loom having a tube frame transporting system having alternating periods of'motion and rest, a multiphase alternating currentelectric motor operatively connected to the said system in such manner as to be required to turn during said periods of motion and being required to beat rest during said periods of rest, said motor being so constructed that it can be caused either to run or be electromagnetically locked against running, and control means for said-motor causing the latter to run to effect said periods of motion of the system and also cause said motor -to be electromagnetica'lly locked against motion to effect said periods of rest of said system.

10. In an Axminster loom operating with a pullover shaft to move tube frames one at a time to transfer position, unitary means operatively connected to said shaft in such manner as to be capable of alternately moving and locking said shaft, said unitary means comprising an electric motor capable in one condition of running and capable in another condition of being electromagnetically locked, and means controlling the motor and causing the latter to be under said conditions alternately.

.11. In an Axminster loom having a pullover shaft to move tube frames one at a time to transfer position, unitary means for alternately moving and locking said shaft including an electric motor capable of running in one condition and capable of being electromagnetically locked against motion in another condition, driving gearing between the motor and the shaft causing the latter to move when the motor runs and be locked against motion when the motor is electromagnetically locked, and electric control means for the motor operative during loom operation to cause said motor to be first under one of said conditions and then under the other of said conditions.

12. In an Axminster loom having a pullover shaft to move tube frames one at a time to transfer position, transfermeans to move a tube frame away from the shaft and then return the tube frame to transfer position during a tuft forming intervai, an electric motor ,operatively connected to said shaft and capable of being under two conditions in one of which said motor runs to turn the-shaft'and in the other condition of which the motor is electromagnetically locked to prevent turning of the shaft, and electric control means for the motor causing the latter to be under said one condition'between said tuft forming intervals and be under said other condition during said tuft forming condition.

13. In an Axminster loom having a pullover shaft to move tube frames oneat a time to transfer position, transfer means operative during a tuft forming interval of loom operation to move a tube frame away from transfer position to tuft forming position and then return the tube frame to transfer position, unitary means for alternately turning said shaft and lockingsaid shaft against turning and including an electric motor operative under one conditionto :run and cause said shaft to turn and operative under another condition to be electromagnetically locked to prevent turning of the shaft, and electric .control means for said motor efiective between successive tuft forming intervals during loom operation toecause said motor to be under said one condition and effective during said interval to cause said motor to be under the other of said conditions to prevent movement of the shaft during tuft forming intervals.

14,.111 an Axminster loom having a pullover shaft to move tube frames one at a time to transfer position, said shaft requiring a given angular movement to move .a tube frame adjacent to transfer position into transfer position, an electric motor operative alternately to turn and stop turning of said shaft, resistance means connected to said motor when the latter "is turning said shaft, and means to vary said resistance means to cause an amount of turning of said motor which will produce said given angular movement of the shaft.

15. In an Axminster loom having an operating shaft which turns continuously during loom operation and having a pullover shaft to have intermittent periods of angular motion to move tube frames one at a time to transfer position, an electric motor operatively connected to the pullover shaft, and control means moved by the operating shaft and causing said motor to have intermittent periods of operation to cause said pullover shaft to have said intermittent periods of angular movement.

16. In an Axminster loom having an operating shaft which runs continuously during loom operation and having a pullover shaft having intermittent periods of angular movement to move tube frames one at a time to transfer position, an electric motor operatively connected to the pullover shaft to cause angular movement of the latter when the motor is running, and control means for said motor moving with the operating shaft and effective to cause the motor to run for a given part of a rotation of the operating shaft corresponding to a period of angular movement of said pullover shaft and effective to prevent turning of the motor for the remainder of said rotation of the operating shaft.

17. In an Axminster loom having an operating shaft which completes a, rotation in a cycle comprising a plurality of beats of the loom and including a tuft forming period, a pullover shaft to move tube frames one at a time to transfer position between tuft forming periods, unitary means including a motor operative to'turn said pullover shaft when the motor is under one condition, said motor when under anothercondition being electromagnetically locked to prevent turning'of the pullover shaft, control means moving with the operating shaft and effective during a part of a rotation of the latter to cause said motor to be under said one condition between tuft forming periods, and effective during the remainder of the rotation of said operating shaft to cause said motor to be under the other of said conditions during a tuft forming operation to enable the electromagnetically locked motor to prevent movement of the pullover shaft when a tube frame is in transfer position.

VICTOR F. SEPAVICH. 

